home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
- Path: sparky!uunet!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!cs.utexas.edu!gateway
- From: ABEGLEY@ccmail.sunysb.edu (Anthony M. Begley)
- Newsgroups: rec.sport.soccer
- Subject: Traditional England selection arguments
- Date: 23 Nov 1992 18:05:27 -0600
- Organization: State University of New York, Stony Brook
- Lines: 89
- Sender: daemon@cs.utexas.edu
- Message-ID: <01GRI2NJBTNM985P4D@ccmail.sunysb.edu>
- NNTP-Posting-Host: cs.utexas.edu
-
-
- State University of New York at Stony Brook
- Stony Brook, NY 11794-2275
-
- Anthony M. Begley
- Materials Science
- 516 632-8516
- 23-Nov-1992 06:36pm EST
- FROM: ABEGLEY
- TO: Remote Addressee ( _rec-sport-soccer@cs.utexas.edu )
-
- SUBJECT: Traditional England selection arguments
-
- Dear All,
-
- Seeing as I cannot add to any sectarian discussions of Rangers vs Celtic here
- are a few comments about the England team selection following on from all the
- others.
-
- Keeper -- Woods, I suppose.
- Seaman was incredibly highly rated by Bham City fans, probably cos he
- is a good shot-stopper (and there are always plenty of shots at St. Andrews).
- He never seems up to class whenever I have seen him, though.
- Beasant (??) How did he ever get selected.
- James As said before, he looks far short of class playing for
- Liverpool (who, after Bruce, wouldnt recognise a good keeper if they saw one).
-
- Defenders -- Adams, despite playing for the most hated Arsenal, I can see his
- good points, i.e. if Terry Butcher played all that time, why cant Adams.
- However, like most English centre backs, i.e., Bruce, Pallister, etc, he is only
- good for games of thuggery or games against teams whose centre forwards are (how
- shall we put it) in the English mould. Thus, far too short of pace against world
- class opposition (admittedly as a lot are). Thus, chuck him out.
- Keown, anyone who watched him for Villa as long as I did cant help
- but admire him. Great strength, speed, and even some attacking SKILLS !!
- Perhaps our Everton friends can reaffirm this, I dont think he is fully fit yet,
- anyway. If he is in form for lowly Everton, I would play him.
- Walker -- the only World Class player in the team, IMHO.
- Parker (Paul) -- looked great last year, but I thought he looked
- well out of it vs Aston Villa.
- Pierce -- a thug and bully who disgraces the national shirt in
- which he plays. Quite the worst advert for English soccer ever produced.
- However, a must for the team for the reasons just stated. I just wouldnt be on
- the pitch with him (on either team) personally.
-
- Midfield -- Gasgoigne people, dont forget he is still a tremendous defensive
- liability. Cos of his wandering about everywhere other players (like Platt) have
- to do half his job for him, thereby reducing their own effectiveness.
- However, the only player with any idea about how to crack open defences.
- Therefore another must.
- Platt -- a bit overrated but scores very crucial goals due to his
- great attacking runs and work rate. OK in a good team, but will never be good
- enough to hang a midfield on.
- Garry Parker -- a bit lightweight and not quite England class
- IMHO.
- Trevor Steven -- always thought he was crap and always will. Cant
- run fast enough, cant beat full backs, and cant cross.
- Batty -- I take it back about Pierce, Batty is a worse
- advertisement for English soccer. Not as dirty as some think but generally no
- where near England class.
- Webb -- too fat and slow and getting too old. Well see how he does
- at Forest before judgment day.
-
- Forwards -- Shearer -- deserves his place on his goalscoring abilities alone.
- Wright -- I suppose the future for England, (how depressing).
- Merson -- strange to hear rude things about Merson. The way I
- judge a striker is how much fear he strikes in defences. From what Ive seen
- Merson looks dangerous whenever he gets the ball (last season, admittedly) and
- he attacks defenders superbly. However, how about an unbiased report from
- Highbury (NOT !)
- Smith (Alan) -- A donkey but good if you can smack long
- balls/crosses at his head. However, England cant do that with any precision so
- leave him out.
-
- All flames welcome -- but what would really help would be genuine supporters of
- each of the players teams assessing their own players club form, and not just
- disparaging people they only see on TV (like Ive been doing).
-
- Tony Begley (Football fan in exile).
-
- PS The best chant ever heard is:
-
- The sky is blue, the clouds are white
- God must have been a spyrite.
-
- (Chesterfield FC colours are blue and white.)
- Ill leave it to someone else to explain it -- any spyrites (sp?) out there
- hiding.
- Notice the similarity with the Napoli song frequently posted.
-